Earlier this year, the Peoria Riverfront Museum (#159) had a special exhibit of 200 Objects in 200 Years to mark the Bicentennial, many of which were on loan from other institutions in Illinois.
So back on Friday, April 13, I got in Avila and headed there.
After driving on I-80 for a while, I switched onto I-39. A short distance south of that interchange, I crossed the Illinois River (#160) over the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Bridge (#161), which had a rather wide span.
I left the interstate at the IL Route 18 exit, and after driving west for a while, I came to the Illinois River again just east of Henry, and then began driving south toward Peoria along IL Route 26, which is designated the Illinois River Road National Scenic Byway (#162). And there sure was some fine scenery along the route.
After about 2 1/2 hours of driving, I arrived in Peoria (#163). I could see that it is quite a prominent city in Illinois, but I sensed how it could be a little off the beaten path. Following a quick lunch, I went to the museum. It was raining, but it was about 70 degrees, much warmer than when I left Oak Park, where it was about 30 degrees cooler. It was interesting to watch the temperature rise as I traveled south and west.
The exhibit started with objects from the earliest years of European settlement in Illinois, which gave way to the more recent immigration of the 19th and 20th Century, including people from northern Europe and Central America.
Then it moved into Illinois innovations, like the State Farm Insurance company (#164), which retired farmer George Jacob Mecherle started many decades ago. There were also many pieces of agricultural equipment on display, which is fitting for Peoria as the home of the Caterpillar company (#165), which produces such equipment for farmers.
From there it was on to the sociopolitical situations of Illinois, including pictures of major figures such as Ida B. Wells-Barnett (#166) and Mary "Mother" Jones (#167). Of course, no exhibit like this would be complete without something related to Abraham Lincoln. Featured there was the desk where he signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Nearby was, as best as my memory serves me, a rocking chair Mrs. Lincoln used. (These items are in the photos below.)
Featuring another Illinois president, the exhibit showed an early copy of the memoirs of Ulysses Grant and an accessory he wore, which are in the photo below, and underneath that is a sign for Ulysses Grant and his first-term vice president.
Moving along, the exhibit focused on the arts scene in Illinois, with figures including architect and Oak Parker Frank Lloyd Wright (#168) and moviemaker and Chicago native Walt Disney (#169). There were even authors featured like author and Oak Park native Ernest Hemingway (#170).
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| On the right page, second from the bottom is Ernest Hemingway's high school senior year photo. |
Getting close to the exit of the exhibit were sports figures, including what Ben Zobrist was wearing in the final decisive game of the 2016 World Series when the Chicago Cubs won (#171).
The exhibit also had Walter Payton's jersey (#172).
There were some items for other political figures with Illinois ties, like Ronald Reagan's boots.
Once I finished there, I took a look around the rest of the museum, which included an exhibit on the Illinois River, its nature, history, commerce, and recent conservation efforts, fitting for the museum's close proximity to the Illinois River waterfront--the photo below shows the view.
Upon concluding my time at the museum, I wound my way around downtown Peoria onto I-74 and then, very fittingly, I once again crossed the Illinois River as I made way toward I-55 to head back north toward home.
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